ATV parking brake

ABSTRACT

An all terrain vehicle parking brake for after market installation on an ATV, UTV, RUV or MUV that relies on placing the vehicle shift lever in a park position to hold the vehicle on a hill. The parking brake includes a brake handle that is mounted to the vehicle dash board to pivot between brake engaged and disengaged positions, extending and retracting a linkage that connects and disconnects through a straight sleeve, with the linkage connecting to a rod end bearing that connected to a brake pedal arm, depressing the brake pedal when an operator activates the parking brake.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates parking brakes for all terrain vehicles.

2. Prior Art

Previously, many all terrain vehicles, “ATV's”, as have automatictransmissions have relied on placing the vehicle in park to hold it inplace. Where, on level or nearly level ground, such is effective forholding the vehicle in place. However, should an operator stop the ATVon a slope and place the shift lever into “park” and release the footbrake. Such operator will find that it is difficult to reposition theshift lever into “drive” as the weight of the vehicle will resist shiftlever movement until the vehicle weight is taken of the vehicletransmission and linkage as by a person or persons pushing on thevehicle to neutralize the vehicle weight, removing that weight off ofthe transmission and linkage. Accordingly, in practice, an ATV operatorwho stops their vehicle on a slope and places the vehicle shift lever in“park”, may find it difficult to reposition that shift lever into drivewithout exerting force on that shift lever as may damage the vehicletransmission and/or linkage. The present invention addresses thisproblem by providing a linkage for maintaining a sufficient depressiveforce on the vehicle brake pedal to hold the vehicle in place without areliance on a movement of the shift lever into “park”. Which linkage isunique in that; when a brake handle is rotated approximately ninety (90)degrees downwardly from the horizontal, a continuous column is providedto transmit a sufficient force onto the brake pedal, depressing andholding the vehicle brake pedal down, operating the vehicle breakingsystem. Whereas, when that brake handle is back to the horizontalthrough approximately ninety degrees, the linkage forming the column isreleased, disconnecting the linkage components from one another, andallowing the brake pedal to lift, insuring brake system release.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a parking brake arrangements for holding an allterrain vehicle (ATV), or the like, on a slope. Previously, an operator,to secure an ATV against rolling, would place a vehicle shift lever to“park”. When such ATV is on an uphill slope when the shift lever isplaced in “park”, and the brake release, a strain is placed on thetransmission and linkage with the vehicle weight acting on thetransmission, making it difficult or impossible to move the vehicleshift from “park” to “drive”. In such a case, it is often necessary forthe operator and/or others to physically push the vehicle up the slopeto neutralize the vehicle weight that the vehicle weight directs intothe transmission, so as to allow shift lever movement. Whereas, with anATV that includes the parking brake of the invention, an operator,wishing to stop and hold the vehicle on a slope, engages the parkingbrake of the invention before they place the vehicle shift lever in“park”. Thereby, the parking brake will hold the vehicle in placewithout placing a strain on the transmission and linkage as can bedamaged by the operator trying to force the shift lever out of “park”with the weight of the vehicle acting on the transmission.

The parking brake of the invention is for an all terrain vehicle, suchas the Polaris® RZR®, but can be used on like ATV's having atransmission arrangement like the Polaris® RZR®, and does not include aparking brake as original equipment. The parking brake of the inventionincludes a manual handle operated mechanical linkage whereby anoperator, by manually downwardly pivoting the handle that is mounted toextend below the dash board, depresses and holds the vehicle brake pedalto prohibit vehicle movement. The invention provides a mechanicallinkage from the handle to a rod end bearing that is pivot mounted tothe side of an arm that mounted the vehicle brake pedal, whereby,manually moving the handle downwardly from the horizontal throughapproximately ninety (90) degrees, urges the brake pedal downwardly,operating the vehicle brakes, and will hold the brake pedal in placeuntil the handle is manually moved back to its horizontal attitude,approximately perpendicular to the plane of a flat mounting bracket thatis positioned below the vehicle dash board.

A component of the mechanical linkage is a rectangular block with athreaded end portion of a forward end that includes a centerlongitudinal opening that a solid round shaft is passed through. Therectangular block end opposite to the threaded end portion is pivotallymounted on its opposite sides to forward end of a link that connects atits rear end to right angle bends of parallel brackets that extendaxially from the handle, and the ends of the brackets ends pivotallyconnect to the solid round shaft end. The rectangular block threaded endis to receive a nut turned thereover after the threaded end is passedthrough a hole in the flat mounting bracket that is connected at itsends to a vehicle dash board support frame.

To transfer a upward pivoting of the handle into outward travel of themechanical linkage, so as to depress the vehicle brake, the solid roundshaft extends axially from the block treaded end portion and isinternally threaded at its forward end to receive a threaded end sectionof a first guide shaft. Which treaded end section terminates in acollar, and has a smooth forward section that is to fit within a sleeve,and a lock nut is turned onto the first guide shaft treaded end section.The opposite slide rod opposite end to fit into a first open end of astraight tube. The opposite or forward end of the straight sleeve is toreceive a second guide shaft smooth end sections fitted therein. Whichsecond guide shaft also includes a collar fixed at a junction with athreaded end section, and a lock nut is turned onto the second guidesleeve threaded end section. The second guide shafted threaded sectionend is turned into a threaded end of a shaft of a road end bearing thatincludes a bearing end for connection through a clevis pin to the brakepedal arm.

The first and second guide shaft smooth end section are fitted intoopposite ends of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is in contact with thecollars, prohibiting contact of the guide shaft smooth section ends.

When the parking brake is not engaged, the handle points outwardly,perpendicular to the dash board. To engage the parking brake, the handleis pivoted downwardly, to essentially parallel attitude to the dashboard. The downward movement of the handle extends the solid round shaftfrom the connector end of the rectangular block, moving the first andsecond guide shaft collars into engagement with the sleeve ends, forminga column that moves the second guide shaft and connected rod end bearingthat is connected to the brake pedal arm so as to depress the vehiclebrake pedal.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a parking brake foran all terrain vehicle, ATV, UTV, RUV or MUR, that includes a handleoperated mechanical linkage whereby an operator, by manually pivoting abrake handle that is mounted below the vehicle dash board, can depressand hold the vehicle brake pedal against vehicle movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical linkage fromthe handle, that is mounted below the vehicle dash board, to the side ofthe vehicle brake pedal arm, whereby manually moving the handle from ahorizontal attitude through ninety (90) degrees downwardly pointingattitude extends a mechanical linkage to press the vehicle brake pedaldownwardly, operating the vehicle brakes, so as to hold that brake pedalin place until the handle is manually pivoted upwardly, back to itshorizontal attitude.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical linkage thatforms a column when the parking brake is operated to depress the vehiclebrake pedal, and which mechanical linkage separates into unconnectedcomponents when the parking brake is released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parking brake that iseasy to install as an after market item and will provide a vehicleoperator with a reliable alternative to a use of an ATV, UTV, RUV, orMUV shift lever position in “park” to hold the vehicle on a slope.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ATV parking brakethat utilizes the pedal operated vehicle brake system as a parkingbrake, and will release the vehicle brake pedal by a rotation of amanually operated handle only.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in the arrangement of component parts thatare herein shown as preferred embodiments and will be described indetail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a parthereof:

FIG. 1 shows a top plan perspective view of the major components of theATV parking brake of the invention shown exploded apart;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan perspective view of the assembled majorcomponents of the ATV parking brake of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation perspective assembled view of the majorcomponents of FIGS. 1 and 2, and related hardware assembled together andmounted in the ATV drivers compartment, forming the ATV parking brake ofthe invention, showing a brake handle in a horizontal attitude, extendsat approximately perpendicular to a forward face of a flat mountingbracket with the parking brake disengaged. and

FIG. 4 shows the assembled view of FIG. 3 showing the brake handle ashaving been rotated downwardly, to be approximately parallel to theforward face of the flat mounting bracket, and extend the parking brakemechanical linkage, illustrated by arrow A, that depresses the brakepedal, illustrated by arrow B, operating the vehicle parking brake.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2, show exploded and assembled perspective views,respectively, of a parking brake 10 of the invention, less attachmenthardware for mounting the parking brake in an ATV's driver's compartment11, and for connection to the vehicle brake pedal assembly 12, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

The parking brake 10 is for holding an all terrain vehicle (ATV, UTV.RUV or MUV) or the like, on a slope where the vehicle had formerlyrelied only on a movement of a vehicle shift lever to “park” to hold thevehicle in place. Such use of the “park” transmission setting places astrain on the transmission and linkage caused by the transmission havingto hold the vehicle on the slope, supporting the vehicle weight. Inpractice, utilizing the “park” transmission setting makes it difficultor impossible to move the vehicle shift back from “park” to “drive”without first neutralizing the force on the transmission exerted by thevehicle weight. Whereas, with an ATV that includes the parking brake ofthe invention, an operator, wishing to stop and hold the vehicle on aslope, engages the parking brake 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,before they place the vehicle shift lever in “park”. So operated, theparking brake 10 will hold the vehicle in place without placing a strainon the transmission and linkage that can be damaged should the operatortry to force the shift lever out of “park” with the weight of thevehicle acting on the transmission.

The parking brake 10 as shown in the Figs. is for use as an after marketadd on for a Polaris® RZR® all terrain vehicle (ATV) that has atransmission that is operated with a shift lever. It should, however, beunderstood that the parking brake 10 can be arranged for mounting to asimilar ATV, UTV, RUV or MUV, within the scope of this disclosure, andmay be adapted for use as an original equipment inclusion on an ATV.Shown in the Figs, the parking brake 10 components include, a handleassembly 15 that has a manually operated control handle 16 that may becoated with a grip surface 16 a. Shown in FIG. 1, the control handle 16forward end 17 includes a pair of identical right angle brackets 18 thateach have a leg 18 a that are secured into opposite sides of the handleforward end 17 to be parallel to one another and are spaced apart. Eachbracket 18 has a right angle bend with a hole 19 formed therethroughthat a first pivot 20 is fitted into, and has straight parallel legs 21with holes 22 formed in the leg 21 ends that second pivots 23 are fittedinto. The second pivots 23 connect the legs 21 ends through a pivotshaft to a solid round shaft 25 end section 26, and the solid roundshaft 25 is fitted through longitudinal opening 28 formed through arectangular block 27 to slide freely back and forth. Additionally, thefirst pivots 20 are fitted through feet ends 31 a of a link 30 havingopposite feet ends 31 b that are each to receive a pivot 32 fittedtherethrough, providing a pivot mounting of the link 30 ends ontoopposite parallel long sides 27 a of the rectangular block 27. Therectangular block 27 is thereby supported to the control handle 16 atspaced apart first and second pivots 20 and 23, respectively.

FIG. 3, shows the parking brake 10 in a released attitude where thecontrol handle 16 is in a horizontal attitude, with the links 30 pivoteddownwardly at their pivot mounting 32 to the rectangular block 27 sides27 a. With the rectangular block 27 held in position in the positionshown in FIG. 3, the solid round shaft 25 has been moved towards theoperator, shown as arrow A, disconnecting the linkage from the brakepedal 12, with the brake pedal spring urging it to a relaxed attitude.To operated the parking brake 10 the linkage is extended, shown at arrowB in FIG. 4 to depress the vehicle brake pedal 12, and as illustrated bya arrow B, and will hold the brake pedal 12 in that depressed attitudeuntil an operator pivots the control handle 16 back to the attitudeshown in FIG. 3, releasing the brake pedal, as discussed herein below.

FIG. 4, shows the parking brake 10 in an engaged attitude engaging thebrake pedal 12 and holding it in a braked attitude. In which attitudethe control handle 16 is pointed downwardly, with the straight parallellegs 21 pivoted towards the operator, extending the solid round shaft 25through the rectangular block. In this position, the links 30 have beenpivoted to where they are alongside the rectangular block 27 sides 27 a,and tend to hold the handle in place until an operator rotates thecontrol handle 16 upwardly to disengage the parking brake, as shown inFIG. 3 and as discussed herein below.

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the block 27 has a fitting mount 35 formed intoits forward end that is open through its center to accommodate the solidround shaft 25 passed therethrough. The fitting mount 35 includes athreaded forward end 36 that a mounting nut 37 is turned onto afterpassage through a hole 42 formed through a mounting bracket 40 face 41.The mounting bracket 40 provides the flat face 41 that is opposite tothe brake pedal 12, and is bent to form short and long ends 43 and 44,respectively, that have a pair of side by side holes 43 a and 43 b and ahole 44 a formed in, respectively, the short and long ends 43 and 44,respectively. The holes 43 a and 43 b of the bracket short end 43 are toreceive fasteners, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as bolts 46 with a nuts 46 aturned thereon, after passage of the bolts 46 through holes formedthrough a steering tilt strut mount 48. The mounting bracket 40 long end44 is mounted to a center dash board support frame as by fitting afastener through the long end 44 hole 44 a and into the dash boardsupport frame.

For proper parking brake 10 functioning the solid round shaft 25 andlinkage to the brake pedal 12 needs to align so as to avoid binding.Accordingly, the mounting bracket 40 flat face 41 should be flat andperpendicular to the solid round shaft 25. To provide this mounting, themounting bracket flat face 41 is bent at an angle C, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. Which angle C, for the Polaris® RZR®, is approximately seven (7)degrees, though, it should be understood that, for another ATV that theparking brake 10 is suitable for installation on, the mounting bracketface angle to the short and long ends 43 and 44 could be greater orlesser, within the scope of this disclosure.

The linkage for transferring movement of the solid round shaft 25towards the brake pedal 12 includes the rectangular block 27 has itsfitting mount 35 fitted through the hole 42 formed through the mountingbracket flat face 41, and the nut 37 is turned onto the threaded end 36of the fitting mount. So arranged, the solid round shaft 25 will extendperpendicular from the mounting bracket flat face 41, as shown in FIG.2. The exploded view of FIG. 1 shows a first guide shaft 50 threaded endsection 51 end aligned for turning into a threaded end 49 of the solidround shaft 25, and includes a lock nut 52 turned thereon. The firstguide shaft 50 includes the threaded end 49 that terminates on one sideof a nut shaped collar 53, and has a straight smooth shaft 54 extendingfrom the opposite side of the nut shaped collar 53. A second guide shaft60 that has a threaded end section 61 that is shown aligned to turn intoa threaded end 63 of a shaft of a rod end bearing 62 and includes a locknut 64 turned thereon and the threaded end section 61 terminates in aone face of a nut shaped collar 65 that has a straight smooth shaft 66extending out from the other face thereof. Prior to the linkageassembly, a sleeve 70 is fitted onto the first and second guide shafts50 and 60 such that, when the brake handle 16 is in a downwardlypointing attitude, as shown in FIG. 4, the sleeve 70 ends 71 will be incontact with the nut shaped collars 53 and 65, respectively, providing acolumn that transfers the movement of the brake handle 16 from theattitude shown in FIG. 3 to the attitude shown in FIG. 4, into a solidlinkage ending in the rod end bearing 62 pivot end 67 that connectsthrough a clevis pin 69 to an arm 12 a of the brake pedal 12, shown inFIG. 4, depressing the brake pedal 12. Which pivot end 67 incorporates abearing as a that will turn freely and is to receive a fastener, shownas the cotter pin 69, that is passed through washer and through a holethrough a brake bracket 12 a, through the pivot end 67 and receives acotter pin 69 a fitted through a lateral hole formed through the cotterpin 69 end. So arranged, movement of the linkage to depress the brakepedal 12, as set out above, turns within the bearing within the pin end67 avoiding binding between the pivot end 67 and the clevis pin 69.

The ends of the first and second guide shafts 50 and 60 solid shaft ends54 and 66, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, are spaced apart from oneanother within the sleeve 70. Which spacing distance is increased whenthe parking brake is not in depressing engagement with the brake pedal12, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, only the downward movement of thecontrol handle 16 from the horizontal through approximately ninety (90)degrees, as shown in FIG. 4, establishes a columnar linkage throughfirst and second guide shafts 50 and 60 nut shaped collars 53 and 66opposing surfaces that contact the ends 71 of the sleeve 70, forming acolumn that depresses the brake pedal 12, as shown by arrow B. Anoperator pivoting the control handle 16 upwardly, to the attitude shownin FIG. 3, thereby separates the sleeve 70 ends 71 from the opposingsurfaces of the nut shaped collars 53 and 66, releasing the brake pedal12, and allowing the sleeve 70 to rotate turn on the first and secondguide shafts 50 and 60 smooth ends 54 and 66, prohibiting aninterference with an operator freely depressing the brake pedal 12 withtheir foot to brake the vehicle during driving.

In practice, after installation of the described components, some trialand error will be needed to apply an appropriate pressure through thelinkage, to operate the parking brake 10. Such adjustment isaccomplished, with the brake handle 16 in the attitude shown in FIG. 4,by turning the threaded ends 51 and 61, respectively, of the first andsecond guide shafts 50 and 60 into or out of the threaded ends of thesolid round shaft 25 end 49 and rod end bearing 62 end 63 to where thebrake pedal 12 is depressed an appropriate distance to energize thebrake system sufficiently to hold the vehicle in place, without overpressurizing the brake pedal. When the desired brake pedal travel isreached, the lock nuts 52 and 64, respectively, are turned intoengagement with the solid round shaft end 49 and rod end bearing end 63,respectively, setting the distance the threaded ends 51 and 61 of thefirst and second guide shafts 62 and 63 extend out from the threadedends of the solid round shaft 25 and rod end bearing 62, respectively.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention in an all terrain vehiclehas been shown and described herein, it should be understood, thatalthough the description above contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodimentcomponents. Thus, the scope of the embodiment should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by theexamples given.

1. An all terrain vehicle parking brake comprising, a linkage connectinga control handle means that is mounted to a dash board frame of an allterrain vehicle to pivot between a first position where a brake handleof said control handle means, that is pivotally connected at it rear endto an end of a brake handle shaft, is in a retracted attitude, to asecond position where said brake handle shaft is in an extendedattitude; a forward end of said brake handle shaft is fitted to a rearend of a first guide shaft that connects to a straight sleeve that has afirst end thereof fitted onto a smooth forward end of said first guideshaft, and said straight sleeve has a second end that is fitted onto asmooth rear end of a second guide shaft, and a forward end of saidsecond guide shaft is mounted to an end of a shaft of a rod end bearingthat has a bearing forward end; means for attachment of said rod endbearing forward end to a brake pedal bracket that mounts a brake pedalon an end thereof; and means mounted onto said first and second guideshafts for engaging said first and second ends of said straight sleevewhen said brake handle shaft is in an extended attitude.
 2. The allterrain vehicle parking brake as recited in claim 1, wherein the firstand second guide shafts forward and rear ends, respectively, arethreaded for fitting into, respectively, a threaded end of the forwardend of the brake handle shaft and a threaded end of the rod end bearingshaft, and opposing collars are fitted onto said first and second guideshafts between their threaded forward and rear ends and smooth rear andforward ends, respectively, as the means for engaging said first andsecond ends of said straight sleeve; and lock nuts are fitted onto saidfirst and second guide shafts thread rear and forward ends for turningagainst said brake handle shaft threaded end and the rod end bearingshaft end, respectively.
 3. The all terrain vehicle parking brake asrecited in claim 1, wherein the brake handle shaft rear end is pivotmounted to an end of the brake handle, between ends of right angle legsof a bracket whose opposite ends are secured in the end of said brakehandle, and rear ends of a link are pivotally connected to said bracketat the right angle bends of said legs of said brackets, and oppositeforward ends of said links are pivot mounted to opposite side of arectangular block that includes a longitudinal opening therethrough thatsaid brake handle shaft is fitted through, to slide freely therein, anda forward end of said rectangular block includes a threaded fittingmount extending therefrom that said longitudinal opening is formedthrough and said threaded fitting mount is to receive a nut turnedthereon after said threaded fitting mount has passed through a face of aflat bracket, for mounting said rectangular block; and said flat bracketincludes ends for attachment to mounting points in a drivers compartmentof the all terrain vehicle.
 4. The all terrain vehicle parking brake asrecited in claim 3, wherein the flat bracket face is bent at itsjunctions with its ends at like angles such the said flat bracket facewill be perpendicular to the brake handle shaft.
 5. The all terrainvehicle parking brake as recited in claim 4, wherein the flat bracketface is bent at its junctions with its ends at like angles ofapproximately seven (7) degrees.